Love that the "not so happy" pic was displayed by this family. Shows that necessary sense of humor that comes with the occasional craziness of the season.

Merry Christmas to the tremendously hard-working ladies of JRW. No doubt it can be a chore having to juggle writing, family, and all the attendant chores of daily life, then add the rotating weeks of blog posts. My hat is off to you! May 2016 be filled with love, joy, good health, and continued success with your careers.

Just hi today. Have to get to bed so maybe tomorrow I'll have the energy to actually make the Christmas cookies instead of taking the butter and cream cheese out of the refrigerator to soften and at the end of the day putting them back in refrigerator and starting the routine over the next day. Happy Holidays to all the Jungle Reds and thanks for a year of happy reading - all of your wonderful books and all of these blog posts.

I'm taking a little staycation enjoying the company of my son, lots of reading, some more baking, a walk, sewing, wrapping, and looking forward to spending time with friends and more friends in the next few days.

HI all! It's about to rain here in Boston! The weather has been so crazy--its going to be in the 50s today!

I am off to do errands. Edith that sounds lovely! AndJoan, you are SUCH a dear pal!

Grandma Cootie, that sounds VERY organized, and you are indeed a multi-tasker.Anyone else making cookies today?

Diane, thank you! And to you, too. And agreed-I love thinking about the moment when someone said--you know, it's real. Let's just do it! And wouldn't it be hilarious if they did this in all their holiday cards in years to come?

Thanks to all of you Reds for putting in the massive amounts of time and effort to run the most informative, engaging, and interesting blog in the writing biz. Have a blessed holiday season, and may joy and peace pervade the new year.

My children and grandchild arrive tonight, they ARE my gifts, and I understand the little one has at least one daily meltdown (she's 2) ... I look forward to it. Did anyone see that picture of Obama with a child throwing a tantrum at some reception? If you missed it: http://img2-3.timeinc.net/people/i/2015/news/150608/barack-obama-435.jpg

Love the card, and can't you just hear many future conversations: "Remember the year Joey had a hissy fit and wouldn't smile for the photographer?" Now that's making memories.

Since I probably won't get another chance, I'll wish you all a Merry Christmas now. I so appreciate all of you, and second Laura's kudos. The Reds do a bang-up job of everything you touch, whether it's the wonderful books you write, or this amazing blog. Thank you, and best wishes for a happy, healthy and even more successful 2016. Kisses and hugs to you all.

I saw this photo earlier and fell madly in love with it. Who doesn't feel just like scowling like that occasionally? Kudos to the politician who embraced all of the reality that life, parenting and photo ops bring out in all of us.

I'm planning to spend the time away from the office creating new reading lists for students which means....I'll have to spend time talking about books and visiting bookstores. Best Holiday Homework ever!

I have enjoyed getting a chance to wander through the year with everyone and send wishes for a wonderful, restful (but somehow productive for those on a deadline!) holiday break.

I love this blog! I love all of your books and look forward to reading and rereading them but the blog keeps me going between books Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of the Reds!It is 70' here in Atlanta and raining and that is the forecast for the foreseeable future.

Hallie we want a full report on the tantrum! And how long do you think it is cute. Remind me to tell you when six-year-old Josh went crazy playing Pokémon with me. And Roberta… That ice cream sounds unbelievable.

Lysa, that sounds fascinating! Love to hear more when you have a chance… Or come do a blog for us about it!

And when I lived in Atlanta, in the early 80s, it snowed 2 inches one day. And people went absolutely crazy. Abandoned their cars on I 75! Two inches! So I I know you are counting your blessings in Atlanta today…

We made So. Many. Cookies yesterday. There is still dough that will theoretically make fifteen dozen (that is not a typo) sugar cookies in the fridge, that The Girl will be working on later today. Then wrapping (same Girl said, "I will wrap all the other presents, but I will NOT wrap my own. The line must be drawn somewhere."). Against my wishes, she draped red foil strings on the tree - and now it's EVERYWHERE. Family arrives tomorrow and the hubby is cleaning.

And tomorrow starts an extended stay-cation for me - don't go back to work until January 4.

And Libby, I so agree! And isn't that part of why it is so funny? That is a moment in time that will torment him forever! I really think they should redo it every year. It will be completely hilarious at his wedding, too. They should do a wedding photo like that, perhaps…

Love that card, Hank. It's so much more real than the adoring-wife-and-perfect-children shots you see from most politician. I'd trust the man who sent this card out with my vote!

I'm running errands today. Have to take boxes of book donations to the local community college, hit the credit union, and most importantly, get the standing rib roast from the butcher! Over the years I've learned as long as we have good food and wine, none of our guests will mind if some of the decorations are MIA or that there are still dust bunnies in the corners.

Love the photo, and yes, I think it'll be a family favorite in the future! His future spouse will probably love it, too!

I still need to wrap presents, and have still not done cards. The cards may not get done. On Saturday I plan to read. There is SO MUCH just in the bookshelves at home, never mind the library books, the books on Kindle, and the books on end tables, on and inside the coffee table, etc. And there are books I plan to buy with money left over from buying Christmas presents!

Thank you, Reds and Red author friends for providing me with so much reading material!

I second the many comments thanking all you Jungle Red Writers. You not only write wonderful books for us to enjoy, but you chat with us daily and make us feel like friends. Thank you so much for creating a community!

I love the photo, too. It reminds me of the only formal picture ever taken of my birth family. I am the baby by 11 years, so I am guessing our ages in it were 3, 14, 15 and 18. Apparently the teenagers and my parents got in a huge fight in the car on the way to the studio, and were not able to recover enough to put on a happy face. My dad and the teenagers all look angry, my mother looks miserable, and I look forlorn. I can't imagine why my parents actually bought a print of it, but now it is hilarious.

Last night I felt just like the kid in the photo. Tired and CRANKY. Too many things to do, too many things not done.

This morning I'm feeling thankful for all our wonderful RED readers. Running many errands today, including the last of the Christmas shopping, and am going to buy people BOOKS. That makes me happy, too.

Roberta, so happy you got the ice cream maker!! Isn't it fun? I've never done Vanilla Bean, but love the Simple Vanilla. Tell us how the Roasted Banana comes out!

Now, everyone take a deep breath, and remember to enjoy the day. Love you all!

Hahaha! I love this picture! It reminds me of myself when I was a child and my mother wanted to take my siblings and my (I'm the baby of the family) picture on Easter. At that time, the girls, even kids, wore hats. However, usually a good-tempered child, that particular day, I wasn't happy about something, so the picture has me with my cute little hat somewhat askew and my bottom lip in a full-blown pout. My poor mother.

I have wrapping to do today, not too much, but I think it's about time to get it done. I have to run out and get one more present. There's some house sprucing up I need to do with son and almost-daughter-in-law coming tomorrow to spend Christmas Eve night. I love that one of the kids is going to be home on Christmas Eve to wake up to a stocking on Christmas morning. Of course, ADIL will get a stocking, too. We're going to my daughter's house on Christmas Day, where the granddaughters will be the toast of the town. I think I'll fix some fudge this afternoon. Fixed vegetable soup yesterday and still thinking about doing a spaghetti casserole later today for Christmas Eve dinner. There will be turkey on Christmas Day and after. My daughter's birthday is the day after Christmas, so we'll slide right into that. Lovely, busy times.

And what a daily present the Reds and blog participants are! Reading the blog and commenting is a centering point for me each day. You all mean so much to me and enrich my life so wonderfully. Thank you, dear Reds family for being here every day. I wish each of you a Merry Christmas, filled with love and family and good cheer.

A long time ago I was the manager of a children's photography studio. Dads were the worst. They don't want to be dressed up, they're afraid someone is going to see them, they never look at the camera, etc. Have you seen Prince William and his family's Christmas photo this year? Dads.

The worst I ever had was a little girl who didn't want to do the whole photo thing so she held her breath. I told mom it just wasn't going to happen that day. I had another where mom wouldn't let baby go -- big baby, able to sit up by himself baby - so I explained that her hand was going to be in the photo. She didn't care. She couldn't let go.

More memories come charging up from the back of my brain today -- HATED HATED HATED to have my picture taken for Christmas. When cleaning out my folks house, I found prints of my MOST HATED Christmas photo -- black velveteen dress with white collar embroidered with rose buds. Perhaps it was an excess of grief, but I shredded each and every one so that no one would ever see them again. A few boxes later I found that white collar: into the trash with no remorse. Still have no remorse, but that photo remains firmly printed in my brain.But Christmas, now there is something to LOVE LOVE LOVE...wishing all of you the wonderful magic of trees and Santas and stories and gifts of love.Blessings.

Did you take your children to the mall every year to have their picture taken with Santa? I did. My favorite was my four year old son sitting in Santa's lap, both of them glaring. Adrian had a black eye from some altercation at nursery school. I don't know what Santa's excuse was but it looked like we were about to have a rumble!

Now that is a true family Christmas card, never mind forcing the child who doesn't want to comply into the group, he would only have spoiled it for everyone else. He's still in the photoshoot, just being independent and yet close to the group. Bravo to that family to let him be himself.Merry Christmas to the Jungle Reds and thank you all for all the wonderfully entertaining blog posts throughout the year. I hope 2016 brings all you could wish for!Happy New Year!

A good day to be inside, quiet, nothing left to rush around for, thankful for some time to have a mug of cocoa with real whipped cream (and maybe a touch of Bailey's), Bach drifting down the hall from my nephew's piano, and a good book to read--courtesy of the wonderful Reds or the equally wonderful discoveries I make on this blog!

Wishing you all a joyous Christmas and holiday season--may the joy carry over throughout the New Year!